ZoomInfo vs. Clearbit: Which should you choose?

About ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is a B2B data powerhouse with a massive contact database spanning hundreds of millions of professional profiles. It delivers the goods—emails, direct dials, firmographics, technographics, intent signals, and website visitor identification. The platform seamlessly connects with major CRMs, marketing automation tools, and sales engagement platforms through native integrations, APIs, and browser extensions. It's structured as distinct modules (SalesOS, MarketingOS, TalentOS) serving different business functions—from prospecting to recruiting.

The service combines web scraping, AI processing, and human verification to keep its database fresh. Pricing? Definitely enterprise-level, with annual contracts starting around $15,000 and scaling based on users and data consumption. While offering global coverage, data quality shines brightest for North American and established companies. Users love the comprehensive dataset and unified platform, but often critique the high costs and complex interface. ZoomInfo maintains GDPR and CCPA compliance programs, though its data collection methods have faced scrutiny.

About Clearbit

Clearbit transforms minimal inputs—like email addresses or domains—into detailed business intelligence. It delivers firmographics (company size, industry classifications), technographics (tech stack data), and contact details by blending public web data with proprietary sources. The platform offers real-time enrichment through APIs and integrations with major systems like HubSpot (where it's now natively integrated as "Breeze"), Salesforce, and Marketo, plus conversion-boosting form shortening that auto-fills visitor information.

The service particularly shines for growth teams and inbound marketers who need to enhance lead quality and personalize interactions. Originally built for developers with flexible APIs, Clearbit now functions primarily within HubSpot's ecosystem while maintaining global data coverage. Its pricing follows a credit-based consumption model that scales with usage volume. While it excels at data enrichment, Clearbit lacks the built-in outreach or lead nurturing capabilities needed to function as a complete sales tool.

Comparison

ZoomInfo

• ZoomInfo delivers vast contact data with org charts and intent signals, plus firmographic and technographic data for hundreds of millions of records. Costs run high with annual contracts starting around $15k—making it too expensive for most SMBs.

Clearbit

• Clearbit focuses on data enrichment, transforming minimal inputs like email into detailed company and contact profiles with global coverage. The platform excels at form shortening for conversion optimization but offers limited functionality beyond data enrichment.

ZoomInfo works best for mid-to-large B2B sales teams that need extensive contact data for outbound prospecting at scale. The platform provides direct access to decision-makers through verified emails and phone numbers—making it ideal for companies with substantial marketing budgets who need to connect with SPECIFIC people.

Clearbit shines for growth-focused teams and inbound marketers who need to enhance existing leads rather than discover new contacts. While ZoomInfo enables contact-based marketing through its comprehensive database, Clearbit lacks this capability without additional tools. This distinction matters because targeted outreach to specific decision-makers often requires the direct contact information that only platforms like ZoomInfo provide.

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